Clamp.



J. P. LAWRENCE CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1908.

Patented Sept. 28, 1909.

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JOSEPH P. LAWRENCE, or THOMAS s'rA'rI'oN, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLAMP.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. LAWRENCE, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at Thomas Station, in the county of ashington andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Clamps, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a releasing and locking clamp for harness, andthe primary object of my invention is to automatically release a checkrein whereby a horse can lower his head for drinking purposes, thisbeing accomplished without the driver of the horse leaving the vehicleseat.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple and durableattachment for a harness saddle for adjustably holding the check rein ofa bridle.

\Vith the above and other objects in view which will more readilyappear, as the invent-ion is better understood, the same consists in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be presentlydescribed and then claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of myclamping device, illustrating the checking rein in a locked position,Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectionalview of the device illustrating the checking rein in an unlockedposition, Fig. 4: is a similar view illustrating the checking reinreleased, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a portion of thedevice, Fig. 6 is a plan of the same, and Fig. 7 is an elevation of thede vice as applied to a single set of harness.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the saddle of a set ofharness, and 2 the bridle. Mounted upon the saddle 1 is a plate 3 havingacentral longitudinal rib 4-. provided adjacent the forward end thereofwith a rivet or screw opening 5, whereby said plate and rib can besecured to the saddle 1.

The upper edge of the rib is provided with a plurality of ratchet teeth6 and the ends of said rib are rounded or beveled as at 7 and 8. Mountedover the rib 4 and secured thereto by pins or rivets 9 is an invertedchannel shaped casing 10. Extending through the casing 10 is a rein 11having the forward end thereof provided with a snap hook 12 adapted tobe attached to the looped check rein 13 of the bridle 2. Secured toSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 3, 1908.

Patented Etept. 28, 1989.

Serial No. 460,876.

the rein 11 by rivets 1e are three plates 15, 16, and 17, the plate 15being on the upper face of the rein and the plates 16 and 17 on thelower face thereof, and pivot-ally connected to the plate 17, is a pawl18 adapted to be engaged by the resilient end 19 of the plate 16.

The rear end of the plate 3 is provided with a yoke 20 for the crupperstrap 21 of the harness, and mounted upon the saddle 1 are terrets 22for the driving reins 23 of the harness. The rein 11 is supported by oneof the reins 23 through the medium of sleeves 24E slidably mounted uponsaid reins.

The check rein 13 is held in a normal position with the horses headelevated by the pawl 18 engaging one of the ratchet teeth 6 of the rib4. and to release the check rein 13, the rein 11 is pulled rearwardlyuntil the pawl 18 passes out of the rear end of the casing 10, as shownin Fig. 3 of the drawings. Vhen the rein 11 is released allowing a horseto lower his head, the pawl 18 drags over the ratchet teeth 6 and theresilient end 19 of the plate 16 recedes over said teeth until the pawl18 passes out of the forward end of the casing 10.

After the horse has finished drinking, the rein 11 is pulled and thepawl 18 enters the casing 10 again, as shown in Fig. a, and iteventually engages the ratchet teeth 6, the pawl being held inengagement with said teeth by the resilient end 19 of the plate 16.

If a check rein device is used in connection with a double set ofharness, the reins 11 can be connected together whereby the check reins18 of the horses can be simultaneously released.

The pawl 18 can be readily retained in the forwardmost ratchet tooth 6and should the horse become fractious or excited, the rein 11 can bepulled to place the pawl in engagelnent with the rearwardmost ratchettooth, thereby retaining the horses head at a greater elevationpermitting of the horse being more easily controlled by the lines 23.

The check rein device is made of strong and durable metal and isapplicable to the present style of harness without altering the same.

\Vhile in the drawings forming a part of this application there isillustrated the preferred embodiments of my invention, I would have itunderstood that the details of construction can be varied or changed asto the shape, proportion and manner of assemblage, without lepartingfrom the spirit of the invention.

Having now described my invention,what I claim as new, is

1. In a check rein device, the combination with a harness saddle and acheck rein, of a plate having a longitudinal toothed rib secured 0n theharness saddle, a casing inclosing said toothed rib, a rein formedimpert'orate extending continuously through the casing, said rein beingconnected to the check rein, a plate having a resilient end on theunderside of the rein, a second plate on the underside of the rein, anda pawl hinged to the inner end of the plate, said pawl being adapted toengage with the toothed rib and being held normally thereagainst by theresilient end of the first plate.

2. In a check rein device, the combination with a harness saddle and acheck rein, a plate having a longitudinal toothed rib secured to thesaddle, a casing inclosing said toothed rib, a ring connected with thecheck rein extending unbrokenly through the casing, a plate on the upperside of the rein engaging the casing, a plate having a resilient end onthe underside of the rein, a second plate on the underside of the rein,and a pawl hinged to the second plate adapted to engage the toothed riband the resilient plate.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

JOSEPH P. LAVRENGE.

Witnesses STUART A. LAWRENCE, GEORGE E. IIAB'IILTON.

